Tips for Picking Your Petals

Floral designer Lisa Moreta of PaisleyNY, a design studio in New York City, offers fresh advice.

Bridal Guide: How should a bride prepare for her first meeting with a florist?
Lisa Moreta: Before meeting, she should collect images from books and magazines and websites, and she might visit an art museum and note what colors and styles inspire her. She should bring images to show the fl orist, who may notice, for example, that the shots contain rich reds and golds. The florist might then envision a muted gold antique urn, filled with red roses and hydrangeas in deep purple and red, set on a burgundy cloth.

BG: Can you name a personal source of inspiration?
LM: The film, The Age of Innocence—the flowers were amazing! I highly recommend it for brides.

BG: What else is helpful to get a bride started?
LM: Well, most brides who come to me have already chosen their venue and, in many cases, they’ve selected the color of their bridesmaids’ dresses as well. Often, I will use these to help me create the palette. Or a bride might have an idea for her personal flowers—her bouquet—and I’ll work from that to build her centerpieces.

BG: What are some pitfalls?
LM: A bride should not choose a florist just because she’s nearby. See four or five pros before deciding. And don’t just look at a florist’s website; go in person so that you can view her entire portfolio. (A designer might have a great-looking website, but not do top-quality work!)

BG: Brides are often surprised by the cost of flowers. What can you tell us about the prices?
LM: If one florist gives you a price for an arrangement of peonies, hydrangeas and calla lilies, for example, the next florist may say he can do it for less.But what does he really mean? Will he substitute stock for the calla lilies? Stock is gorgeous, but it isn’t the same as calla lilies! Almost any kind of fl ower is available at any time—for a price. Out-of-season means more expensive.

BG: What are the floral trends?
LM: More low arrangements—tall doesn’t have to be the way to go. Low is more affordable, and very elegant. If you’re having a smaller, more intimate wedding, with 15 or so tables, you might do low centerpieces on seven tables and high on eight. Mixing them up is more visually interesting; the eye travels from tables to ceilings and back again.

BG: What’s your dream bouquet?
LM: I adore sweet peas and I love, love, love lilies of the valley, so I’d have those in white. And I’d include white lady’s slippers and white cattleya orchids. With that in hand, I’d float down the aisle!